Horse Council BC and the BC Ministry of Agriculture are conducting a province-wide Equine Economic Impact Survey.

Whether you are a weekend trail rider, a breeder or top-rank barrel racer, your input is invaluable to the creation of an accurate study.

The past ten years have seen significant population growth, economic challenges and a changing perspective on agriculture and livestock among the general public. These attitudes have a direct impact on issues such as environmental stability and animal welfare. When you add the changes in the economy to these challenges, you can see the need for an in-depth review of the horse industry in its’ current state.

A healthy industry is important to all horse people. This is your opportunity to have a say on where our industry stands today.

Ference & Company has been engaged by Horse Council BC with funding from the BC Ministry of Agriculture to conduct an Economic Impact Study of the horse industry in BC to determine its economic benefits and values to the provincial economy. To do so, we are conducting an extensive survey of all horse owners in BC.

Your decision to participate is voluntary but your views are very important. The information you provide will be protected in accordance with the Privacy Act and all information collected will be used solely for research purposes. Your responses will be summarized with other responses and reported only in summary form. Your specific responses will not be attributed to you in any report resulting from this study.

If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Hannah Clark, Management Consultant, at Ference & Company (604-688-2424 ext.310).

Funding has been provided for this project the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial investment that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023.

ATTENTION HOREMEN:

Application form for Stabling 2019/2020 are now available. Please note that the DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS JUNE 22, 2019.

On January 31, 2019 in the Backstretch Kitchen, HRBC held a brainstorming/information meeting regarding the newly implemented Mare Registry program to begin in 2019 which was posted on the HRBC website, emails sent to various breeders/members and notices posted in the HRBC office area.

The Breeders Committee recognizes that information is knowledge; when it is time to set budgets and/or incentives which are designed to encourage breeding in BC or to evaluate the programs that are currently in place ensuring that they are increasing and sustaining breeding in our province statistics become your guide. It was the intention of HRBC to hear the voices of the membership regarding the thoughts of such a program.

It was discussed that the first step would be to have the owners of mares complete and submit the form which would give the board the knowledge of how many mares in foal or not are in BC.

Since that meeting, many opinions and statements have been put in print on various social media formats offering pure speculation of what the discussions entailed. HRBC is asking that if a member has any questions or concerns regarding the discussions of this said meeting to please contact the HRBC office. At this point, the only decision that the Breeders’ Committee and the Board of Directors have made is to release the 2019 Mare Registry Form for all owners to list their mares in foal or not and added this requirement as an addition to the current eligibility for the 2019 New Foal Incentive Application.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!

Pick up your tickets at the HRBC office, $50 per person for a night of fun and excitement. This year the office will not be doing a seating arrangement so please buy your tickets early and if you are wanting to have a full table you can reserve a table but it must be paid in full.

Contact Diane or Deserae at 604-574-5558 to make your reservation and/ or purchase your tickets.

See you at the Banquet!

BREEDERS MEETING - JANUARY 31, 2019 @ 2:00 PM - BACKSTRETCH KITCHEN

HRBC will be holding an information meeting regarding the newly implemented Mare Registry Program to begin in 2019. This is only the beginning regarding this new program, breeders will submit the Mare Registry Form whereas they are registering their mares, in foal or not at no charge to HRBC. This gives our society the knowledge of how many Mares are in BC.

It is our hope that you as members can offer your feedback regarding this program.

In order for HRBC to find the best way to honour the horses and people of the Standardbred Racing Industry at the Annual Awards Banquet, we invite our members to give their written nominations naming their favourite horse or person in theaward categories.

To place your nominations please see attached document below to view and print.

Please be advised that effective immediately, all inquiries regarding CONDITIONS or CONDITION SHEETS must be submitted in writing and given to the CONDITION COMMITTEE.

2018 BC BREEDERS CLASSIC DAY - NOVEMBER 11TH

BC's RICHEST DAY in HARNESS RACING is Sunday, November 11th at 12:45 pm. Come on out to see the 2 and 3 year olds compete for a total of $400,000 in finals.

To reserve a seat, please call Elements Casino at 604-575-5603.

ATTENTION MEMBERS:

Please be advised that effective immediately, purse cheques will be available every Thursday starting at noon.

Notice to all Horsemen - Great Canadian will be filming racing the evening of Friday October 26th for promotional purposes so let's present our great colours, etc.!

Notice to all Horsemen - Effective September 27th, 2018, Authorized Agent Forms will be handled by HRBC office and no longer GPEB. There are forms available in the HRBC office.

Notice to all Horsemen - January 1, 2019 will see the introduction of microchipping in all Standardbred Horses. Please go to the HRBC website Breeders Corner and click on the mare and foal image to find all of the detailed information.

Marketing and Social Media Programs are underway at Fraser Downs Racetrack - please see forms for all of these great initiatives including the National Caretakers Appreciation Day! Anyone wanting to sponsor the races on October 5th to honour the Grooms of our Industry, please see Carla.

You asked for it, you got it! Mario Vargas will be here from Combined Insurance to go over your Accident and Sickness Supplemental Insurance Needs. Many of our members already use Combined Insurance for their coverage

IMPORTANT NOTICE

TO HORSEMEN RE QUALIFIERS AND ENTRY DATES

Enter on Monday September 3 for Qualifiers

being held September 6

Enter on Monday September 10 for Qualifiers

being held September 13

Horsemen’s Meeting will also be held after Qualifiers on September 13

Enter on Monday September 17 for both

Thursday September 20 and Friday September 21

Entries will be on Mondays September 24, October 1, 8 and 15 while we race Thursdays and Fridays at Fraser Downs

Update on USTA Approved Sulkies:

Remember that for the coming race season at Fraser Downs, only USTA approved sulkies will be permitted in a race.

In keeping with the commitment to increase the horse population for the Standardbred horse harness racing industry in B.C., Harness Racing BC recognizes the importance of horses committed to racing at Fraser Downs Racetrack.

Horses must be entered to go and start at least once in the first three weeks of racing in the months of September and October 2018, (September 20 to October 5 inclusive) and commit to racing for the 2018 Race Meet at Fraser Downs.

This document is hereby considered to be a Letter of Commitment and Agreement to race the horse at Fraser Downs for the 2018 Race Season. I understand that the $750.00 Horse Racing Starting Incentive is payable to the Owner after the horse has made its first start. Two Year Olds which are not eligible for the BC Breeders Stakes are included in this Horse Population Incentive Program.

If the horse leaves prior to January 1st 2019, then a repayment of the funds to Harness Racing B.C. Society will be required within 30 days and I fully understand this. In consideration of the sum of $750.00 I hereby promise to race the following Horse(s) named, starting in the first three weeks of the 2018-2019 Race Meet and through until at least December 31st, 2018.

The Horse Population Incentive form is now available from the HRBC office or via this link:

Grading of the racetrack will start this Wednesday August 15th! Training can start at 5:00 am daily but we need to be off the tracks by 11:00 am so the work can be done. Thanks so much for your cooperation!

Safety Note to all Horsemen:

This month, (August), will see the start of major construction projects across the north end of the Fairgrounds’ property; ice arena construction, a north-south road from 64 to 62 Ave (named 177B), moving the Works Yard, and potentially, a conversion of the Show Barn into a ball hockey arena.

NOTICE OF TRACK CLOSURES for

MONTH OF AUGUST

The Track will be closed on the following days:

Track closed for the Ride to Conquer Cancer

Friday August 24th – off Track by 11:00 am

Track Closed Saturday August 25th

Track Closed Sunday August 26th

Track Re-opens Monday August 27th

2018 GPEB STANDARDBRED RULE CHANGES ARE OUT - May 22, 2018

Chapter 1 Rule 141 (Definitions)Sulky – a dual wheel racing vehicle (bike) with dual shafts not exceeding the height of the horse's withers, shafts must be hooked separately on each side and approved by the United States Trotting Association.________________________________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 6 Rule 218(3)218. The Paddock JudgeThe Paddock Judge, appointed by the Track Operator, shall:(3) Inspect a horse and sulky for any change in equipment, broken or defective equipment and saddle pads._________________________________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 7 Rule 230(1) – add (a)230. Equipment(1) (a) Only sulkies approved by the United States Trotting Association will be permitted in a race

2018 YEARLING / MIXED SALE

HRBC will be holding the 2018 Yearling & Mixed Sale on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in the Agriplex building located on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Further updates to follow.

Please note that the Main Track will be closed down at 8:00 am on Thursday May 3rd, 2018 for the whole day so HRBC can have a grading survey of the track done.

Please have your training done prior to that time on Thursday and thank you for your cooperation in getting this important survey done.

Congratulations to those who have been elected to serve the membership of HRBC; and a sincere thank you to everyone who put their name forward to run to represent the membership; and thank you also to those whose terms will cease this month for their past service.

The new Board of Directors will commence their terms after the AGM on April 17th, 2018.

Breeders: AcclaimedKelly MacMillanDeanna Merritt

Owners: ElectedBill PambrunEarla Sifert

Trainer/Drivers: ElectedJeff WaltenburghClint Warrington

Elements has a new website:

Trouble-shooting! I had several calls on the weekend from members and fans trying to watch the races. Elements Casino has changed their website and we weren't notified about it. If you could update your link to www.elementscasinosurrey.com you should be able to see all of the racing information now.

Request to HRBC Members - if you have changed your email address recently or have not been receiving emails from the office, please send your email information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we may update our records for future notices. Thank you!

- Computer for Members - It's great to see members coming into the office to use the computer. Remember that HRBC has set up a computer for members to use in the Boardroom so you can access the web and conduct on-line business like SC memberships. We're happy to make things easier for you to access.

The Homestretch

The Homestretch is the hub for horsemen, horse enthusiasts, and wagering at the Elements Casino in Cloverdale, BC. Harness Racing BC invites you to bring your friends and co-workers to dine and socialize with us. Learn about our athletes - the horses and the drivers; and experience the exciting atmosphereof watching the Harness Horses race to the finish line at

Fraser Downs Racetrack !

Important Announcements

Harness Racing BC is a proud member of

Harness Racing BC is proud to be a member of the buyBC Program - Standardbreds are the first registered BCBred horse in this program!

Harness Racing BC Society is A Proud Member of the Surrey Board of Trade, Year 2018

HARNESS RACING - Harness the Passion with us! We have great athletes out here on the track - full fields and very competitive! Come on out to the Homestretch and join other horse sports enthusiasts from across the Lower Mainland. You've never seen racing until you've seen the sport of Harness Racing!